The members of Mount Moriah Baptist Church love one another, and they love the Lord.

"I grew up in this church, and now I'm the pastor of the church," he said. "These people really love each other. It's not exclusive. They embrace everyone."

Members are also dedicated to reaching as many people as possible with the message of the Gospel because of their love for Jesus, he said.

The church on Gilliam Mountain Road in Edneyville celebrated its 175th anniversary recently with a special service and meal for its members.

"It was great," Melton said. "We had a full house and tons and tons of food."

The anniversary celebration will continue in September when the church hosts an outdoor contemporary Christian music concert and hot dog supper. The free event will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 6 at the church.

The entire community is invited to join church members in celebrating the church's history during the concert and supper.

Mount Moriah Baptist Church began in 1839 with 14 charter members and soon added a small school called Mount Moriah School. Two church elders, Benjamin King and John Lyon, took turns holding services soon after the church opened.

The church built in 1839 stood for a number of years until it was destroyed by a fire.

"Evidently, in the late 1800s there was a fire. It burned down," Melton said. "They built another building, which we worshiped in until 2012."

The church was remodeled in the 1940s when Sunday school rooms were built and a furnace was installed. The first full-time minister joined the church in 1954.

In the 1960s, the church built a baptistery, kitchen and new Sunday school rooms.

The building met the needs of its members for the next several decades. But by 2012 it became apparent to everyone that Mount Moriah needed a new facility.

"It was just so crowded," Melton said. "People would come and visit and not come back."

The church tore down its old building.

Members came together in an adjoining structure while the new $1.2 million church was built on the spot where the old church stood. The new church was dedicated in May 2012. Mount Moriah now has 350 members.

Plans for the future of the church include adding an education building to the campus and beginning new ministries, Melton said.

The church recently began offering a contemporary praise band during its services and plans to continue its success with the September concert.

"We are trying to reach younger people," Melton said.

Much of the congregation at Mount Moriah is made up of families that have attended the church for generations.

Church member Priscilla Walker said her family is one of those that found a home at Mount Moriah.

Walker's family has attended the church for at least five generations.

"Is that not so cool?" she said. "That is pretty far back."

Walker, 33, grew up attending Mount Moriah, but she left the church for a time and joined a larger congregation in the area.

She eventually returned to the church and now attends with her four children.

I just felt that is where the Lord always wanted me to be," she said. "I just feel that is where I'm meant to be."

Walker said she thinks the kindness members show toward each other makes the church special. When she experienced deaths in her family, church members made home-cooked meals to help her family through their time of grief.

"That is why I love that church. They have always been there for me," she said. "I know God is in that church."

Melton also grew up attending the church before going away to college and "chasing the world" for a few years.

He returned to the church in his late 20s and fell in love with its people and mission all over again. Melton has led the church as its pastor for the past 15 years.

"This is my home. I know all the people, and they know me — and they let me be the pastor anyway," he said with a chuckle. "I really love them. I do."

<p>If you ask Pastor Bryan Melton what has held his church together for the past 175 years, his top two factors have one thing in common — love.</p><p>The members of Mount Moriah Baptist Church love one another, and they love the Lord.</p><p>"I grew up in this church, and now I'm the pastor of the church," he said. "These people really love each other. It's not exclusive. They embrace everyone."</p><p>Members are also dedicated to reaching as many people as possible with the message of the Gospel because of their love for Jesus, he said.</p><p>The church on Gilliam Mountain Road in Edneyville celebrated its 175th anniversary recently with a special service and meal for its members.</p><p>"It was great," Melton said. "We had a full house and tons and tons of food."</p><p>The anniversary celebration will continue in September when the church hosts an outdoor contemporary Christian music concert and hot dog supper. The free event will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 6 at the church.</p><p>The entire community is invited to join church members in celebrating the church's history during the concert and supper.</p><p>Mount Moriah Baptist Church began in 1839 with 14 charter members and soon added a small school called Mount Moriah School. Two church elders, Benjamin King and John Lyon, took turns holding services soon after the church opened.</p><p>The church built in 1839 stood for a number of years until it was destroyed by a fire.</p><p>"Evidently, in the late 1800s there was a fire. It burned down," Melton said. "They built another building, which we worshiped in until 2012."</p><p>The church was remodeled in the 1940s when Sunday school rooms were built and a furnace was installed. The first full-time minister joined the church in 1954.</p><p>In the 1960s, the church built a baptistery, kitchen and new Sunday school rooms.</p><p>The building met the needs of its members for the next several decades. But by 2012 it became apparent to everyone that Mount Moriah needed a new facility.</p><p>"It was just so crowded," Melton said. "People would come and visit and not come back."</p><p>The church tore down its old building. </p><p>Members came together in an adjoining structure while the new $1.2 million church was built on the spot where the old church stood. The new church was dedicated in May 2012. Mount Moriah now has 350 members.</p><p>Plans for the future of the church include adding an education building to the campus and beginning new ministries, Melton said.</p><p>The church recently began offering a contemporary praise band during its services and plans to continue its success with the September concert.</p><p>"We are trying to reach younger people," Melton said.</p><p>Much of the congregation at Mount Moriah is made up of families that have attended the church for generations.</p><p>Church member Priscilla Walker said her family is one of those that found a home at Mount Moriah.</p><p>Walker's family has attended the church for at least five generations.</p><p>"Is that not so cool?" she said. "That is pretty far back."</p><p>Walker, 33, grew up attending Mount Moriah, but she left the church for a time and joined a larger congregation in the area.</p><p>She eventually returned to the church and now attends with her four children.</p><p>I just felt that is where the Lord always wanted me to be," she said. "I just feel that is where I'm meant to be."</p><p>Walker said she thinks the kindness members show toward each other makes the church special. When she experienced deaths in her family, church members made home-cooked meals to help her family through their time of grief.</p><p>"That is why I love that church. They have always been there for me," she said. "I know God is in that church."</p><p>Melton also grew up attending the church before going away to college and "chasing the world" for a few years.</p><p>He returned to the church in his late 20s and fell in love with its people and mission all over again. Melton has led the church as its pastor for the past 15 years.</p><p>"This is my home. I know all the people, and they know me — and they let me be the pastor anyway," he said with a chuckle. "I really love them. I do."</p>